The national government has launched two major policy reforms aimed at empowering communities and improving service delivery.
The National Framework for Ward Development and the National Ward Record System were unveiled at the two-day Provincial Administrators Conference in Port Moresby today.
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The reforms are part of the government’s “Year of Reset” agenda, focusing on decentralization, improved governance, and economic growth.
Chief Secretary Ivan Pomaleu and Minister for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, Hon. Soroi Marepo Eoe launched the reforms on behalf of Prime Minister James Marape.
In his opening remarks, Chief Secretary to Government Ivan Pomaleu reflected on the nation’s 50 years of independence, calling the milestone both a celebration and a turning point.
“Fifty years of striving, learning, and building has brought us here,” he said.
“As we enter 2026, our collective theme rings clearly: reset, recommit, and dedicate for a new beginning.”
The conference aligns with the 2026 national budget, framed under the theme “security with growth.”
Government officials emphasized that sustainable development requires economic, institutional, and social security.
Prime Minister James Marape has highlighted that growth and security are inseparable, and without one, the other remains fragile, a principle guiding the public sector’s reform agenda.
A major focus of the conference is decentralization.
Provincial administrators were reminded that they are “key delivery partners” responsible for turning national policies into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.
The government is working to clarify the responsibilities of national, provincial, district, and local levels of government, and the Provincial and Local Level Services Monitoring Authority (PLASMA) is being realigned to become more results-focused and accountable.
Mr. Pomaleu stressed that administrators must be active participants, not passive observers, in the reform process.
He called on public servants to embrace excellence, accountability, and service to the people. “Let us choose excellence over mediocrity, accountability over convenience, and our people over ourselves,” he said.
Minister Eoe emphasized the need for decentralization, saying, “Papua New Guinea is not just Waigani or Port Moresby; 80% of our people are out there.”
He urged administrators to take ownership of the reforms, which aim to empower communities and improve service delivery.
He outlined that the National Framework for Ward Development promotes bottom-up planning, while the National Ward Record System is a digitized platform for collecting socioeconomic data from 6,912 wards.
Minister Eoe expressed appreciation for administrators’ efforts in delivering services despite challenging circumstances, including the long-delayed LLG election.
He stated, “You are where the action is. You are where 80% of our people are. You make things happen.” Administrators are crucial in implementing government policies and driving development in their provinces.
The government is pushing for a “Year of Reset” agenda, focusing on decentralization, improved governance, and economic growth.
Minister Eoe announced a new structure for administrators’ conferences and assigned 20 positions to provinces to support implementation.
He urged administrators to recommit themselves to serving their people and driving development.
The National Framework for Ward Development and National Ward Record System are key initiatives under this agenda.
The framework promotes bottom-up planning, empowering communities to identify priorities and participate in decision-making.
The National Ward Record System is a digitized platform for collecting socioeconomic data, aiming to support development planning.
Minister Eoe encouraged provincial administrators to take ownership of the reforms and drive change.
He stated, “National development cannot be achieved from the top up alone. It must begin in the wards.”
The government is committed to supporting administrators in delivering services and driving growth in their provinces.
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The conference will continue over tomorrow with presentations from key government leaders and reform stakeholders.